From Hobby to Retirement Plan:

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share an incredible story from one of our subscribers, Brendon Forest, that really made my day. Brendon is a 57-year-old father of three who’s been working with wood since the 8th grade, inspired by his stepdad, a finished carpenter who’s still on the job at 83. Over the years, Brendon has tackled countless projects and kept his passion for learning new things alive.

After a career in both law enforcement and IT, Brendon found himself returning to his roots, creating with wood again—but this time, it was different. He stumbled upon my YouTube channel, and what started as a hobby turned into something much bigger.

Here’s how Brendon tells it:

"I made your transforming bench/shelf unit and loved it. Inspired by your videos and positivity, I started designing smaller projects. One night, I made a custom ‘Reserve’ sign for a Greek restaurant my wife and I love. The owner liked it so much, he asked for dozens more, and even had me make custom menu holders from log stumps. This side hustle really took off—so much so, my wife invested in tools and equipment for me to take this to the next level.”

Recently, Brendon participated in his first craft fair, earning nearly $600 in a single day. He’s now booked for more fairs and even set up a website to sell his creations.

"Matthew, I consider you my ‘Silent Wingman.’ Your videos gave me the push I needed, and I’m excited for what’s next. You’ve truly inspired me to turn my passion into a retirement plan, and for that, I’m forever grateful."

It’s stories like Brendon’s that remind me why I started this journey in the first place. Creating content is about more than just projects—it’s about helping people discover their own potential, find their own way, and turn ideas into reality. Thank you, Brendon, for sharing your story and for letting me be part of your journey.

If you want to check out Brendon’s work, visit his website at thewingmandesigns.com.

Keep making,
Matthew

P.S. I want to reach as many woodworkers as possible with my message. For just the readers who made it this far and read Brendon’s story, if you share this email on Facebook with a paragraph of why you recommend joining my newsletter, I’ll send you a free plan of your choice. Just email a screenshot and one single plan you want to [email protected].